(TAIYUAN, June 26) -- The curtain closed on the Taiyuan leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday as Guo Fenglian, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), lit the cauldron.

The Taiyuan leg drew crowds of locals who came out as early as 7:00 a.m. to show their support.

Covering a distance of 11.2 kilometers, the Taiyuan leg involved 208 torchbearers.

Singer Tan Jing led the way. "I am proud to be the first torchbearer," she said, adding that she hoped her run would help pass on the Olympic spirit and love as part of the effort to support the quake relief work.

Celebrities like singer Yan Weiwen and the CEO of China's search engine giant Baidu also participated in the relay.

The flame will leave for Datong, where the Torch Relay is scheduled for Friday.


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(DATONG, June 27) -- The last torchbearer Mu Yongfeng lit the cauldron at 9:35 a.m. on Friday, marking an end to the Olympic Torch Relay in the coal city of Datong.

Datong is the fourth and also the last stop for the relay in north China's Shanxi Province. The torch will continue its journey in Hangtiancheng on Saturday.

The Torch Relay ended at a square in front of a Buddha statue in the 20th cave. The Yungang Grottoes have 252 caves and 51,000 statues. They represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries.


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  Torchbearer Fei Junlong runs with torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay at Dongfeng Aerospace Town in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 28, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, Northwest China, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the crew of Shenzhou spacecraft 6, carried the Olympic flame Saturday in the torch relay at the "Dongfeng Space City" in northwest China's Gansu province.

A total of 22 bearers took part in the relay in the satellite launch base as most of which were top experts in China's spaceflight program.

Fei, 43, and Nie, 44, had been the crew of Shenzhou 6, the second human spaceflight of China, which was launched three days before the second anniversary of China's first human spaceflight, Shenzhou 5, and took flight for five days in low Earth orbit.


     Torchbearer Nie Haisheng runs with torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay at Dongfeng Aerospace Town in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 28, 2008.(Photo credit: Xinhua)

The opening ceremony was staged on the movable launch complex within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center as Fei ran down the first leg from the launch rack at 8:10 a.m. local time in the day's relay.

The lighting of torch adopted a method of time countdown as the rocket launch does in the backdrop of stage.

"It's another great honor for me along with the Shenzhou 6 flight. It's a great honor not just for me, but also for the whole family of cosmonauts and China's space program technology," said Fei.

For Nie, carrying the torch in the 15th place is also one of the best memories. "I am happy with this, even happier than my 41th birthday," said Nie, who celebrated his 41st birthday in space.

Wang Yongzhi, 76, the chief designer of China's manned spacecraft program, made an exhibition of the torch on the ninth floor of Umbilical Tower, part of the launch complex.

Wang, who was born in northeast Liaoning province, is an aerospace scientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was awarded the nation's highest scientific and technological prize, State Preeminent Science and Technology Awardin 2003.

The relay, complying with the theme of science and technology, passed the launch field, Ruoshui River, Heaven Flying park, Wentian Pavilion and Central Avenue, and reached the closing ceremony site, Dongfeng Square, at 9:10 a.m..

Shenzhou 6 was launched on 12 October 2005 on a Long March rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The JSLC, which covers 2,800 square kilometers, has been the focus of many of China's successful ventures into space, including their first satellite Dong Fang Hong 1 in 1970, and their first manned space mission Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003.

After the relay in spaceport of Dongfeng, the Olympic flame heads for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for Sunday's relay in Zhongwei.


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           Liu Chongxi kindles the cauldron.

(ZHONGWEI, June 29) -- Liu Chongxi, the last torchbearer in Zhongwei, Ningxia Province, reached Cultural Square shortly after 9:30 on Sunday morning to light the cauldron, symbolizing the end of the Torch Relay here.

The relay here had started at 8:10 in the morning from Shapotou Square, with writer Zhang Xianliang serving as the first of 205 torchbearers. The flame was relayed along a 3.3-kilometer route.

Next, the Torch Relay team will move on to Wuzhong, the second stop in Ningxia Province, to prepare for the relay of the Olympic flame there on Monday



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(WUZHONG, June 30) -- The Olympic torch bid farewell to Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, at 10:48 a.m. on Monday with last torchbearer Huang He lighting the cauldron at the Shengyuan Square. The torch will begin its Yinchuan leg, the last stop of Torch Reley in Ningxia, on Tuesday.

Wuzhong is famous for its unique scenery and is home to the country's largest concentration of Hui people.

The 5.6-km-long Wuzhong leg followed the Zhongwei leg that ended on Sunday. Established in 1947, Wuzhong Middle School, the starting point of the relay, is a model school that contributes to local development.

A total of 193 torchbearers, including Zhang Dongguo, who is dedicated to promoting local Qingzhen delicacies, and Li Youdong, head of the Wuzhong Firefighting Team that headed to Wenchuan for quake relief work, participated in the Torch Relay in Wuzhong.

As early as 8 a.m., crowds of local residents flocked to the streets to see the Olympic flame.


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(YINCHUAN, July 1) -- At 10:40 a.m., Wang Youde, who has made notable contributions to desert sand control, lit the cauldron at People's Square to conclude the Olympic Torch Relay in Yinchuan, which is the last stop in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Wang Youde was named hero for his major achievements in desert sand control last year. He has made efforts to prevent desertification for more than 20 years.

The city of Yan'an, dubbed the "Cradle of Revolution," will host the Olympic torch on Wednesday.


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(YAN'AN, July 2) – A few minutes after noon on Wednesday, July 02, Wang Xilin ignited the flame cauldron to signal the end of the torch relay in the city of Yan'an, Shaanxi Province.

The relay in the city began at 8:15 this morning, when 93-year-old Red Army veteran Liu Tianyou started off the Torch Relay from the site of the Zaoyuan Revolution.

As China's "Cradle of Revolution," Yan'an holds a prominent place in the country's history. From 1935 to 1948, Yan'an was the headquarters of the Chinese Communist revolution. The city served as the country's military headquarters during the Chinese Anti-Japanese War and China's War of Liberation. In addition, Yan'as was former home of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Along a route that highlighted the historical and cultural importance of Yan'an and its surroundings, a total of 208 torchbearers took part in the 6.31 kilometer-long relay.

The sacred flame will travel to Yangling and Xianyang next.


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(YANGLING, July 3) -- The last torchbearer Yan Junfang lit the caudron at the Yangling International Convention Center at 9:26 a.m. on Thursday, marking the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Yangling, the second stop in Shaanxi Province.

The city of Xianyang will host the Olympic flame this afternoon.

Shan Lun, a 75-year-old academic with the Chinese Institute of Engineering, ran with the Olympic torch at 8:13 a.m., kicking off the Yangling leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in Shaanxi Province.

A total of 95 torchbearers participated in the 6.53 km-long relay.

"I very much treasure my experience as a torchbearer. And I will try my best to support the country and the Olympics," Shan said, adding he will use the Olympic spirit in his scientific research and achieve greater results.


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         Shooter Shi Hong lights the cauldron

(XIANYANG, July 3) -- The Torch Relay in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, ended just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday as last torchbearer Shi Hong, arrived at the Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine Stadium to light the cauldron.

Jiang, a shooting athlete, was one of 113 torchbearers to take part in the relay, which covered 6.9 kilometers



          Last torchbearer Shi Hong carries the torch

The relay had started at around 2 p.m. from Tongyi Plaza with shooter Zhang Bo and archer Zhang Min serving as the first torchbearers.

The Journey of Harmony will continue in Xi'an on Friday.


   Torchbearers approach the site of the end of the Torch Relay in Xianyang.


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The last torchbearer Wang Libin lights the cauldron at Furong Garden (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

(XI'AN, July 4) -- Near the fantastic afterlife palace complex built to hold China's first emperor and his terracotta warriors through eternity, torchbearer Wang Libin completed the last leg of the Olympic torch's odyssey through Xi'an.

In a region that served as the imperial capital on and off for centuries, Wang lit a fire-catching cauldron to mark the close of the torch's passage through Xi'an on Friday morning.

Olympic gold medalist Tian Liang, who grabbed first-place prizes in diving during the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games, launched the torch relay through Xi'an, and another 200-plus bearers carried the sacred flame through the ancient Chinese city.


  The last torchbearer Wang Libin (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

As it passes through China, the Olympic torch has been lighting up a spectacular spectrum of cities and cultures, artifacts and architecture across the ages.

Xi'an was the imperial capital of the Tang Dynasty of 618-907, which is regarded by many cultural historians as the "Golden Age" of Chinese Buddhist sculpture, figure painting, Daoist poetry and aristocratic learning.

The Tang's open-minded rulers supported global trade across the Silk Road, and their capital became a multicultural world metropolis that was probably unrivalled in terms of technology and urban sophistication for centuries.


The Tang Dynasty-styled Furong Garden is decorated with flags and banners (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

A palatial imperial wall and sentry watchtowers still surround the city, and nearby the intricately sculpted Terracotta Army still stands sentinel over the underground necropolis built for Qin Shihuang, who created the first Chinese empire in 221 BC.

While completing the Olympic flame's relay through Xi'an, torchbearer and basketball star Wang Libin said: "I hope the Beijing Olympics push forward progress in our society and promote social harmony in our country."


  An art performance featuring terracotta figurines (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

Wang, called the "Best Center in Asia," joined the national team in 1981, and has since taken part in a string of world competitions.

Xi'an, meanwhile, is believed to be the birthplace of many sports in China. Polo, tug-of-war, wrestling, chess and other sports flourished here more than one thousand years ago.

An early version of football appeared in China even before Qin Shihuang forged the first Chinese empire here, and the real-life models for his terracotta sentries might have played the game during their spare time.


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(DUNHUANG, July 5) –- With the lighting of the flame cauldron at Moonlight Shadow Square by last torchbearer Sai Like, vice-mayor of Jiuquan, the Dunhuang leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay successfully wound up at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The highlight of today's Torch Relay was the carrying of the sacred flame on camels.

The relay in Dunhuang started from the Mogao Grottoes, with the director of the Dunhuang Research Institute, Fan Jinshi, serving as the first of 120 torchbearers.

Planners selected the Mogao Grottoes as the starting point of Dunhuang's 7.6 kilometer relay route to showcase the ancient site's historical and cultural charm as an important relic left behind that witnessed the passing of many Chinese dynasties, including the Wei, Jin, North and South and Tang Dynasties. In addition, this is the "birthplace" of one of the Fuwa, Huanhuan. Fuwa are the official Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mascots.

Next, the Torch Relay team will move on to Jiayuguan, the second stop in Gansu Province, to prepare for the relay of the Olympic flame there on Sunday.


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(JIAYUGUAN, June 6) -- Mayor of Jiayuguan Ma Guangming closes out the Jiayuguan leg of the Olympic Torch Relay after lighting the cauldron atop Jiayu Pass.

The Jiayuguan leg kicked off at 8:15 on Sunday as Yu Haiyan, director of a local iron&steel company, ran as the first torchbearer.

A total of 208 torchbearers participated in the 13.8 km-long relay.

Haoyuan, deputy governor of Gansu and Yang Yang, an Olympic speed skating champion, are among the 208 torchbearers.

Jiayuguan or Jiayu Pass is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China, near the city of Jiayuguan. Along with Juyongguan and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main passes of the Great Wall.



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(LANZHOU, June 7) -- Zhu Jun, a CCTV host, lit the cauldron at the Waterwheel Exhibition Park at 11: 45 a.m., marking the end to the Lanzhou leg of the Torch Relay and the last stop in Gansu Province.

Tian Yu carried the Olympic flame at 8:15 on Monday from Zhongshan Bridge to kick off the relay.

Tian Yu, who has made great contributions to the Sichuan quake relief work, overcame loss of his home and family members during the May 12 earthquake to lead paramilitary personnel in rescuing eight residents, saving 3,000 tons of grain and more than 2,000 goods from destruction and resettling 1,100 quake victims.

A total of 296 torchbearers participated in the 15.6-km long relay.

Tang Zhongli, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Gao Xionghou, who has done research on oil refinement; Li Yuanzhen, an imam of Hui Ethnic Minority; and Ma Ying, a softball coach, are among the torchbearers.


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[ Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-7-7 19:03 ]

     
(HOHHOT, June 8) -- Pan Gang, chairman and president of Yili Group, lit the cauldron at the Ruyi Development Zone Square at 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, bringing the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region . The city of Erdos will host the Olympic torch on Wednesday.

The Olympic torch started its tour at 9:07 a.m.

Mengke Bateer, a famous Chinese basketball player, was the first to carry the torch. The whole journey covers 6.2 km.

Altogether 208 torchbearers carried the Olympic flame along this stretch of the Journey of Harmony.


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Ordos, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Yang Hongyan, former vice mayor of Ordos City, lit the cauldron at the Genghis Khan Square at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, bringing the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Ordos' Olympic torch relay kicked off at 8:35 a.m. as Ha Silao, triple Paralympic Games javelin champion, was the first to carry the torch. The whole journey covers 6.3 kilometers.

Altogether 104 torchbearers carried the Olympic flame along this stretch of the Journey of Harmony.

The city of Baotou will host the Olympic flame this afternoon.


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